Showtime is taking a page from the history books for it’s latest project.
The pay cabler is developing a limited series about the civil rights movement called The Ali Summit, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The project looks at a seminal moment in the civil-rights movement – the gathering of 12 of the nation’s top black intellectuals and athletes to first vet and then ultimately support Muhammad Ali’s conscientious objection to the Vietnam War draft, 50 years ago in 1967.
The drama explores the intersection of civil rights and sports that continues to resonate today, and tracks the FBI’s crusade against Ali, Jim Brown and other black leaders in the lead-up to Ali’s arrest for draft evasion at the peak of his boxing career.
Jeff and Michael Zimbalist will write and direct. The duo will also exec produce with Jim Brown, Monique Brown, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Joe Roth.
